The Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) has called upon the Government to halt the growth of 20mph after accident figures cast doubt on their effectiveness.
Data released by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) showed a decrease in the number of accidents on 40mph and 30mph roads during 2013, but recorded a 26 per cent rise in the number of accidents in 20mph zones. The IAM also found a 29 per cent increase in the number of serious casualties on 20mph in the same period.
This came hot on the heels of a Government announcement earlier this year that the Department for Transport was to commission a three-year study into the effectiveness of 20mph speed limits after admitting its current evidence into the benefits of the zones was ‘inconclusive’
Those revelations moved the ABD to survey its members, and found that 95 per cent believed the Government should halt the creation of more 20mph zones pending its further research.
Of those surveyed, 98 per cent felt observation and adjusting driving speeds to the conditions was a more important part of safe motoring than applying blanket 20mph limits, while over three-quarters (77 per cent) thought that educating all road users on their responsibilities under the Highway Code would make a bigger contribution to road safety than the zones.
Meanwhile, less than four per cent felt there was a credible case for more 20mph zones.
"The fact that proponents of 20mph zones continue to campaign for their introduction despite increases in accidents suggests that the ultimate aim of reducing speed limits is to discourage driving rather than making the roads safer”, said ABD spokesman Sean Corker. "There is no such thing as a "20mph road" or a "30mph road" as road architecture and hazard density change continuously. If we add in variable weather conditions, seasonal variations, then the advice given by 20mph advocates - that safe driving consists of simply obeying a 20mph speed limit - is potentially dangerous. While it may be perfectly safe to drive on a particular stretch of road at 30mph on sunny weekday afternoon with clear sight lines and low hazard density, the same stretch of road on an icy January morning during rush hour is a completely different proposition."
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